WIESENTHAL CENTER STATEMENT ON IRAN PRESIDENT’S DENIAL OF THE HOLOCAUST

[Behind the Aegis]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s latest statement calling the Holocaust a "myth" used by Europeans to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world demands an immediate response from the international community. Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center said: "In view of the fact that the UN General Assembly will be commemorating the Holocaust on January 27, it behooves them to immediately censure the Iranian leader for this outrage and his previous calls for genocide against the Jewish State."

To date, only the Security Council has condemned the Iranian leader's genocidal threats

Rabbi Hier continued:

Further, we call upon the European Union to declare Ahmedinejad persona non grata in all European capitals. Europeans must take the lead in ensuring that the Iranian regime’s genocidal hate has specific consequences.

continued action and story here...

[Quakerfriend]

1. It's about time that someone said something

pointed about this.

[katinmn]

2. But didn't Israel threaten to nuke Iran a couple weeks ago?

If Ahmadinejad said this, he should be rebuked, but so should Israel for threatening to nuke and for goading Iran.

The US, too, has been sabre rattling at Iran for more than a year and is working hard to build up anti-Iran fervor in the US similar to the strategy that worked so well in building a case against Iraq.

Did you see the NYT article that quoted another anonymous source saying three truckloads (2 unaccounted for) of fraudulent ballots were brought into Iraq.

We need to be very careful, esp regarding the NYT and especially since we have been lied to previously.

Anonymous sources and loose interpretations don't cut it.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Your attempt at balance reminds me of the media

"Republicans are evil, but course Democrats suck, too."

Sometimes -- often -- it's perfectly all right and sufficient to point out that one side is evil.

[MrPrax]

4. Perfectly Alright?

When anyone starts tossing 'evil' around to routinely dehumanize their 'enemies', then this is usually the prelude to Holocaust, no?

[DavidDvorkin]

6. MrPrax, perhaps you misinterpreted my post

I'm saying that it's sufficient to condemn the President of Iran for his statement. It is not necessary to try to strike some sort of balance by pointing to something nasty some Israeli has said.

[MrPrax]

7. Still confused...

You used the term evil?

Republicans are a lot of things, but using the term 'evil' is a little much....

So who is 'evil'? No, the Iranian PM is misinformed, stupid and historically wrong, period. Not necessarily evil.

I don't recommend ever pulling comments out of much larger context especially in politics and especially when it comes to Middle East and especially when it comes historical revisionism, of which there is NO shortage on all sides.

Iranian PM is playing a nasty political game...so what.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. I understood.

However, there are some who will always criticize Israel, no matter what. They are usually the same ones that think because someone supports Israel it is a full court effort to defend Israeli politicians and ignorantly assume by posts, such as the OP, are nothing more than pro-Israeli propaganda. Had this idiot said this about, let's say Germany, I really doubt there would be any "but Germany did such and such" posts (I guess there might be a few).

[katinmn]

5. No, that analogy just doesn't fit. I just call em as I see em

The Iran prez is evil to say what he said, but antagonizing and threatening to nuke people brings out the evil. I don't care if it's the US, Israel, or Borneo. It's all bad.

The only ME country with nukes should be pressured by the world community to give them up. Otherwise, other soveriegn nations are within their rights to defend themselves.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. No.

Israel made no such claim.

And what do mean if Ahmadinejad said this? He said it on live television! Go here and see clips #963, #961, and #956.